ATLANTIS TAKEOVER 'BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Brookfield Asset Management's ownership takeover at Atlantis and the One & Only Ocean Club has been described by a leading accountant as "the best thing that ever happened for the Bahamas". Raymond Winder, managin
Outrage over UK's 8% 'airlift tax' rise for the Caribbean
Outrage over UK's 8% 'airlift tax' rise for the Caribbean Caribbean hoteliers yesterday expressed outrage over the UK's decision not to change its Air Passenger Duty (APD) banding structure, with the 8 per cent increase set to be imposed from April 2012
Homebuilder at '1/3 of pre-crisis levels'
Homebuilder at '1/3 of pre-crisis levels' Sub-Deck: * Arawak Homes chief says foreclosed properties creating over-supply further depressing market * Says IMF suggesting 'current public policy not adequate' * Bahamian living standards 'in decline' File
Aquapure fears water shortage over duty woes
Aquapure fears water shortage over duty woes Sub-Deck: * Concerned sums previously paid lost to potential 'scam' By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading bottled water manufacturer is questioning whether it fell victim to an import duty-rela
Public spending to rise 'less than 0.1% of GDP' via wage freeze end
Public spending to rise 'less than 0.1% of GDP' via wage freeze end Sub-Deck: * Gov't acknowledges major difference with IMF over 'timing and will for major tax reform' * Debt Management Committee set up to oversee Bahamas' fiscal position By NEIL HA
OUTRAGE OVER UK'S 8% 'AIRLIFT TAX' RISE FOR THE CARIBBEAN
Caribbean hoteliers yesterday expressed outrage over the UK's decision not to change its Air Passenger Duty (APD) banding structure, with the 8 per cent increase set to be imposed from April 2012 increasing airlift (access) costs to the Bahamas for Europe
HOMEBUILDER AT '1/3 OF PRE-CRISIS LEVELS'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading Bahamian property developer yesterday told Tribune Business that homebuilding activity is down to "one-third of where it used to be" pre-recession, with the company now having to compete against an over-
AQUAPURE FEARS WATER SHORTAGE OVER DUTY WOES
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading bottled water manufacturer is questioning whether it fell victim to an import duty-related scam, as it raced against time yesterday afternoon to clear imported machine parts vital to prevent it from runn
PUBLIC SPENDING TO RISE 'LESS THAN 0.1% OF GDP' VIA WAGE FREEZE END
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Lifting the civil service wage freeze will increase public spending by a sum equivalent to "less than 0.1 per cent of GDP", the Government believes, its major difference with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Outrage over UK's 8% 'airlift tax' rise for the Caribbean
Outrage over UK's 8% 'airlift tax' rise for the Caribbean Caribbean hoteliers yesterday expressed outrage over the UK's decision not to change its Air Passenger Duty (APD) banding structure, with the 8 per cent increase set to be imposed from April 2012
Homebuilder at '1/3 of pre-crisis levels'
Homebuilder at '1/3 of pre-crisis levels' By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading Bahamian property developer yesterday told Tribune Business that homebuilding activity is down to "one-third of where it used to be" pre-recession, with the com
Aquapure fears water shortage over duty woes
Aquapure fears water shortage over duty woes By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading bottled water manufacturer is questioning whether it fell victim to an import duty-related scam, as it raced against time yesterday afternoon to clear import
Public spending to rise 'less than 0.1% of GDP' via wage freeze end
Public spending to rise 'less than 0.1% of GDP' via wage freeze end By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Lifting the civil service wage freeze will increase public spending by a sum equivalent to "less than 0.1 per cent of GDP", the Government beli
Outrage over UK's 8% 'airlift tax' rise for the Caribbean
Outrage over UK's 8% 'airlift tax' rise for the Caribbean Caribbean hoteliers yesterday expressed outrage over the UK's decision not to change its Air Passenger Duty (APD) banding structure, with the 8 per cent increase set to be imposed from April 2012
Homebuilder at '1/3 of pre-crisis levels'
Homebuilder at '1/3 of pre-crisis levels' By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading Bahamian property developer yesterday told Tribune Business that homebuilding activity is down to "one-third of where it used to be" pre-recession, with the com
Aquapure fears water shortage over duty woes
Aquapure fears water shortage over duty woes By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading bottled water manufacturer is questioning whether it fell victim to an import duty-related scam, as it raced against time yesterday afternoon to clear import
Public spending to rise 'less than 0.1% of GDP' via wage freeze end
Public spending to rise 'less than 0.1% of GDP' via wage freeze end By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Lifting the civil service wage freeze will increase public spending by a sum equivalent to "less than 0.1 per cent of GDP", the Government beli
Outrage over UK's 8% 'airlift tax' rise for the Caribbean
Outrage over UK's 8% 'airlift tax' rise for the Caribbean Caribbean hoteliers yesterday expressed outrage over the UK's decision not to change its Air Passenger Duty (APD) banding structure, with the 8 per cent increase set to be imposed from April 2012
Homebuilder at '1/3 of pre-crisis levels'
Homebuilder at '1/3 of pre-crisis levels' By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading Bahamian property developer yesterday told Tribune Business that homebuilding activity is down to "one-third of where it used to be" pre-recession, with the com
Aquapure fears water shortage over duty woes
Aquapure fears water shortage over duty woes By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading bottled water manufacturer is questioning whether it fell victim to an import duty-related scam, as it raced against time yesterday afternoon to clear import
Public spending to rise 'less than 0.1% of GDP' via wage freeze end
Public spending to rise 'less than 0.1% of GDP' via wage freeze end By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Lifting the civil service wage freeze will increase public spending by a sum equivalent to "less than 0.1 per cent of GDP", the Government beli
Outrage over UK's 8% 'airlift tax' rise for the Caribbean
Outrage over UK's 8% 'airlift tax' rise for the Caribbean Caribbean hoteliers yesterday expressed outrage over the UK's decision not to change its Air Passenger Duty (APD) banding structure, with the 8 per cent increase set to be imposed from April 2012
Homebuilder at '1/3 of pre-crisis levels'
Homebuilder at '1/3 of pre-crisis levels' By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading Bahamian property developer yesterday told Tribune Business that homebuilding activity is down to "one-third of where it used to be" pre-recession, with the com
Aquapure fears water shortage over duty woes
Aquapure fears water shortage over duty woes By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading bottled water manufacturer is questioning whether it fell victim to an import duty-related scam, as it raced against time yesterday afternoon to clear import
Public spending to rise 'less than 0.1% of GDP' via wage freeze end
Public spending to rise 'less than 0.1% of GDP' via wage freeze end By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Lifting the civil service wage freeze will increase public spending by a sum equivalent to "less than 0.1 per cent of GDP", the Government beli
RULING SET TO DETER 'VEXATIOUS LITIGANTS'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A ruling by Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett might deter Bahamian workers with "marginal claims" from pursuing employment cases in the Supreme Court, rather than the Industrial Tribunal, a leading law firm arguin
Bahamas realtor starring on HGTV
A Bahamian realtor with ERA Dupuch played a starring role on the well-known HGTV channel, helping to find a rental property that satisfied the requirements of a professional expatriate couple. "This couple had just moved from Dubai, and were excited about
LANDFILL SOLUTION REMAINS 20-30MW WASTE-ENERGY PLAN
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Government is still targeting a waste-to-energy plant that could produce 7-10 per cent of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation's (BEC) installed capacity as the 'end game' solution for the Tonique Williams-Darl
PRIVATE SECTOR LOAN DEFAULTS HIT $301M
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Almost one-third of commercial bank loans to Bahamian businesses are in arrears, something the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation's (BCCEC) chairman described as a sign that economic recovery
DON'T SETTLE FOR A SURVIVAL 'RUT'
By Ian Ferguson A paradigm is defined as a mindset or pattern of behaviour that appears to be the established norm. A paradigm shift, though, is the force driving individuals and organisations out of that prevailing mindset, propelling them towards a bri
SPEED WEEK CHIEF EYES 2,500-3,000 EXTRA ROOM NIGHTS
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Bahamas Speed Week's president has estimated that the revival event generated between 2,500-3,000 room nights for the Bahamian hotel industry, describing its economic impact as "quite substantial". While Bahamas S
FATF TO MAKE LEGACY CLIENTS 'CHALLENGING'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor New Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plans to make tax evasion a predicate money laundering offence will make dealing with legacy clients "quite challenging" for Bahamian financial services providers, a well-kno
CHAMBER CHIEF TO TACKLE FREEPORT'S BOND 'HEAD ON'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce's newly-elected president yesterday called for the ongoing controversy surrounding Freeport's 'bonded goods' regime to be "resolved once and for all", as licensee complaints ov
GB SHIPYARD GETS 'BETTER AND BETTER'
Grand Bahama Shipyard's chairman, Carl-Gustaf Rotkirch, said the facility has "done better and better" every month throughout 2011, having gone 205 days without any health/safety incident this year. And, speaking with staff at the Shipyard's annual Chris
BROKERS 'CUT OUT' OF HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE MARKET
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The outgoing Bahamas Insurance Brokers Association's (BIBA) president has again complained that ties between commercial banks and large brokers are "cutting everyone else out" of the homeowners insurance market, w
CHAMBER CHIEF SUPPORTS GOV'T OUTSOURCING '110%'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation's (BCCEC) chairman has given his "110 per cent support" to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) call for more services to be outsourced to the private
SIR SOL STEPS DOWN AS KERZNER CEO
Sir Sol Kerzner yesterday stepped down as Kerzner International's chief executive in favour of long-time company executive, Alan Leibman, though he remains as the company's chairman. In that capacity, Sir Sol will work closely with Mr Leibman, former chie
HOPE 8.7% FISCAL DEFICIT DECLINE A 'SUSTAINABLE TREND'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A former finance minister yesterday expressed hope that the 8.7 per cent decline in the fiscal deficit for the 2011-2012 Budget year's first quarter represented the start of a "sustainable trend", even though the
BELLEVUE OPENS LATEST DIVISION
Bellevue Business Depot has opened its latest division, Bellevue Contract Furnishings & Design. "The concept of the Bellevue Contract Furnishings & Design has been quietly brewing in the background of Bellevue Business Depot," said Monique Graham, manag
BTC TAKES 4G TO GRAND BAHAMA
The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has introduced its fourth generation (4G) network on Grand Bahama via a soft launch. Coming almost a month ahead of schedule, it follows the official launch of the same technology in New Providence one week ea
JUST 17% OF POOR GETTING BENEFITS
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Less than 17 per cent of poor Bahamian households are receiving social security benefits, an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) report highlighting a dysfunctional welfare system that is failing to reach those
GB POWER PLANT 'OVER 60% DONE'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Grand Bahama Power Company yesterday said its new generation plant is "more than 60 per cent complete" after a $40 million investment to-date, as the BISX-listed company that holds 50 per cent of its equity unveil
$1.23M PREFERENCE PAYOUT CAUSES BOB INVESTORS Q1 LOSS
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editors Bank of the Bahamas International's ordinary shareholders suffered a minor $141,676 loss during the institution's fiscal 2012 first quarter, as timing issues related to $1.231 million in preference share dividend
MONTAQUE LIQUIDATORS 'FULL FORCE' IN CANADA
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Liquidators for Owen Bethel's Montaque Capital Partners have been recognised by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice through a ruling given "full force and effect" throughout Canada, a move critical to enabling t
SECOND BAHAMIAN JOINS NAD TOP RANK
A second Bahamian has joined the Nassau Airport Development Company's (NAD) top executive ranks. Kevin McDonald has been appointed to the position of vice-president of maintenance and engineering, with effect from January 1, 2012. He will also become an
IDB TO BAHAMAS: RUN 2.5% PRIMARY SURPLUS
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas was yesterday warned to "pick up the pace" of fiscal reform, the Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) top Caribbean economist saying this country needed to achieve primary Budget surpluses equivalen
15 CANDIDATES FOR BRAND AMBASSADOR
Fifteen representatives from various Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) member firms are participating in the Bahamas Brand Ambassador programme, which is attempting to identify professionals who exhibit the industry's best qualities. Three Bahamas B
INSOLVENT BANK'S CREDITORS TO GAIN $0.07 ON DOLLAR
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Creditors of an insolvent Bahamian offshore bank are in line to recover less than seven cents ($0.07) of every dollar owed to them after the Supreme Court refused to give the liquidator leave to appeal a ruling, a
SMALL BUSINESS BILL DISCUSSION TARGET BEFORE 2012 ELECTION
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A government minister says he is "reasonably certain" that broad consultation with stakeholders on the much-awaited Small and Medium-Sized Business (SME) Development Bill can be held prior to the general election,
ZNS blasts Cable on ad 'dumping'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor ZNS has alleged that Cable Bahamas' previous Channel 12 tie-up with a radio station owned by a former PLP Cabinet Minister was politically motivated, and an attempt to "cut a deal" with the Christie administration